A digital video camera performs a method to improve the image quality of captured images in a video image stream. The method includes capturing a first subset of images, outputting the images of the first subset of images as the video image stream, moving an image sensor and/or a lens of the digital video camera from a respective normal position to a respective test position before capturing an image of a second subset of images. The digital video camera captures a second subset of images interspersed with the first subset of images, compares image quality of the first subset of images with an image of the second subset of images, and determines if the image of the second subset of images exhibits improved image quality as compared with the image of the first subset of images. If so, an image quality improvement operation is initiated.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for improving the image quality of images in a video image stream captured by a digital video camera, comprising: capturing a first subset of images by the digital video camera; outputting the images of the first subset of images as the video image stream; moving an image sensor and/or a lens of the digital video camera from a respective normal position to a respective test position, the test position being different from the normal position; capturing an image of a second subset of images while the image sensor and/or a lens of the digital video camera is in the test position, capturing the second subset of images using the digital camera, wherein the capturing of the second subset of images is interspersed with the capturing of the first subset of images at a dynamic rate dependent on at least one of bandwidth and system load; comparing image quality, based on analyzing sharpness, of an image of the first subset of images with an image of the second subset of images; and determining, based on the comparison of image quality, if the image of the second subset of images exhibits improved image quality as compared with the image of the first subset of images; wherein on a condition that the image of the second subset of images exhibits improved image quality as compared with the image of the first subset of images, initiating a refocus operation on the digital video camera.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the capturing of the second subset of images is interspersed with the capturing of the first subset of images at a predetermined rate.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein outputting the images of the first subset of images as the video image stream is made at a predetermined frame rate.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sharpness of an image is determined by using a spatial high frequency analysis.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising moving the image sensor and/or the lens to the respective normal position before capturing an image of the first subset.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein moving the image sensor of the digital video camera from the normal position to the test position further comprises: moving the image sensor to a first test position towards an optical input of the digital video camera; and moving the image sensor to a second test position away from the optical input of the digital video camera.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein moving the lens of the digital video camera from the normal position to the test position further comprises: moving the lens to a first test position towards an optical input of the digital video camera; and moving the lens to a second test position away from the optical input of the digital video camera.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising identifying an area of special interest within an image of the first subset of images, and wherein comparing an image of the first subset of images with an image of the second subset of images is performed by comparing a subsection comprising the area of special interest of the image of the first subset of images with a subsection of the image of the second subset of images corresponding to the area of interest of the image of the first subset of images.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein moving the image sensor and/or the lens of the digital video camera from the normal position to the test position further comprises: moving the image sensor and/or the lens to a first test position towards an optical input of the digital video camera; and moving the image sensor and/or the lens to a second test position away from the optical input of the digital video camera.
10. A digital video camera for improving the image quality of images in a video image stream, comprising: an image sensor arranged to capture image data; an image processor arranged to process the image data captured by the image sensor into images, and to output images as the video image stream; and an actuator arranged to move the image sensor or a lens from a respective normal position to a respective test position, the test position being different from the normal position; wherein the image processor is further arranged to compare, by analyzing the sharpness, image quality of a first image being processed from image data being captured when the image sensor or the lens is located in the respective normal position with a second image being processed from image data being captured when the image sensor or the lens is located in the respective test position; arranged to determine, based on the comparison, if the second image exhibits improved image quality as compared with the first image; and on a condition that the second image exhibits improved image quality as compared with the first image, arranged to initiate a refocus operation on the digital video camera; and wherein the actuator and the image sensor are arranged such that the capturing of the second image is interspersed with the capturing of the first image at a dynamic rate dependent on at least one of bandwidth and system load.
11. The digital camera according to claim 10 , wherein the image processor is arranged to determine the sharpness of an image by using a spatial high frequency analysis.
12. The digital camera according to claim 10 , wherein the actuator is further arranged to move the image sensor or the lens from the respective test position back to the respective normal position.
13. A method for improving the image quality of images in a video image stream captured by a digital video camera, comprising: capturing a first subset of images by the digital video camera; outputting the images of the first subset of images as the video image stream; moving at least one of an image sensor and a lens of the digital video camera from a respective normal position to a respective test position, the test position being different from the normal position, wherein the test position includes a first test position towards an optical input of the digital video camera and a second test position away from the optical input of the digital video camera; capturing an image of a second subset of images while the at least one of the image sensor and the lens of the digital video camera is in the test position, capturing the second subset of images using the digital camera, wherein the capturing of the second subset of images is interspersed with the capturing of the first subset of images; comparing image quality, based on analyzing sharpness, of an image of the first subset of images with an image of the second subset of images; and determining, based on the comparison of image quality, if the image of the second subset of images exhibits improved image quality as compared with the image of the first subset of images; wherein on a condition that the image of the second subset of images exhibits improved image quality as compared with the image of the first subset of images, initiating a refocus operation on the digital video camera.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the capturing of the second subset of images is interspersed with the capturing of the first subset of images at a predetermined rate.
15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the capturing of the second subset of images is interspersed with the capturing of the first subset of images at a dynamic rate depending on at least one of available bandwidth and system load.
16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein outputting the images of the first subset of images as the video image stream is made at a predetermined frame rate.
17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the sharpness of an image is determined by using a spatial high frequency analysis.
18. A method for improving the image quality of images in a video image stream captured by a digital video camera, comprising: capturing a first subset of images by the digital video camera; outputting the images of the first subset of images as the video image stream; moving at least one of an image sensor and a lens of the digital video camera from a respective normal position to a respective test position, the test position being different from the normal position; capturing an image of a second subset of images while the at least one of the image sensor and the lens of the digital video camera is in the test position, capturing the second subset of images using the digital camera, wherein the capturing of the second subset of images is interspersed with the capturing of the first subset of images; comparing image quality, based on analyzing sharpness, of an image of the first subset of images with an image of the second subset of images; and determining, based on the comparison of image quality, if the image of the second subset of images exhibits improved image quality as compared with the image of the first subset of images, wherein on a condition that the image of the second subset of images exhibits improved image quality as compared with the image of the first subset of images, initiating a refocus operation on the digital video camera; and identifying an area of special interest within an image of the first subset of images, wherein comparing an image of the first subset of images with an image of the second subset of images is performed by comparing a subsection comprising the area of special interest of the image of the first subset of images with a subsection of the image of the second subset of images corresponding to the area of interest of the image of the first subset of images.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein moving the at least one of the image sensor and the lens of the digital video camera from the normal position to the test position further comprises: moving the at least one of the image sensor and the lens to a first test position towards an optical input of the digital video camera; and moving the at least one of the image sensor and the lens to a second test position away from the optical input of the digital video camera.
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December 13, 2011
June 17, 2014
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